Sporting excellence celebrated in Ongwediva

The country’s finest sports achievers gathered in Ongwediva for what is regarded as the biggest night in Namibian sport, celebrating excellence through the Namibian Annual Sport Awards on Saturday.This year’s 21st edition marked the fifth time the event has been hosted outside Windhoek. Other towns that previously hosted include Swakopmund in 2018 and 2023, Ondangwa in 2019 and Lüderitz in 2022.Athletes, sports administrators and media practitioners were recognised for their outstanding achievements for the period 1 October last year to 30 September this year.The winners across the various categories were as follows:Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) Chairperson’s Award – Johan Müller (Cricket Namibia CEO).Sport Journalist of the Year (broadcasting) – Terence Mukasa (One Africa TV).Sport Journalist of the Year (print) – Limba Mupetami (New Era Newspaper).Sport Journalist of the Year (digital) – Brian Munango (Sport Wrap).Umpire/Referee of the Year – Antsino Twanyanyukwa (football).Junior Sportswoman of the Year – Ashley Martins (athletics).Junior Sportsman of the Year – Burton Weakley (archery).Junior Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability – Keila de Oliveira (para swimming).Junior Sportsman of the Year with a Disability – Quinton Gaeb (para floorball).Federation of the Year – Cricket Namibia.Sports Team of the Year – Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (open water swimming).Development Programme of the Year – Special Olympics Namibia.Community Inspiration Award – Special Olympics Namibia.Professional Athlete of the Year in the Diaspora – Vera Looser (mountain biking).Coach of the Year – Naomi Schmidt (para triathlon).Lifetime Achievement Award – Polly Negongo (cricket), Matheus Ndeshitila (boxing, volleyball, basketball), Rita Williams (football, netball), Isack Elishi (football, boxing).Wall of Fame Award – Elizabeth Mongudhi (marathon), Luketz Swartbooi (marathon), Bernd Kebbel (water skiing).Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability – Johanna Benson (para athletics).Sportsman of the Year with a Disability – Ananias Shikongo (para athletics).Sportswoman of the Year – Vera Looser (mountain biking).Sportsman of the Year – Fillipus Nghitumbwa (boxing).People’s Choice Sport Star of the Year – Emilia Ekandjo (gymnastics).Sport Star of the Year – Jeromius Rooi (para triathlon).Straight victoriesSome of the achievements recognised include Cricket Namibia being named the country's leading federation for five consecutive years.In his acceptance speech on behalf of the federation, vice-president Polly Negongo dedicated the award to the collective effort behind their success.“This award goes to our CEO [Müller] and the team that has, year in year out, kept raising the bar and competed globally, beating teams we look up to. They put in the hard work and this is motivation for them to never stop working,” he said.Negongo urged other federations to follow suit and work towards professionalising their respective sporting bodies.“I would like other sports codes to put good governance in place. We have shown over and over again as a country that, despite being a small nation, we pack a hard punch at the global level. We need to keep pushing forward.”Sport Wrap’s Brian Munango claimed the digital award for the third consecutive year, while New Era’s Limba Mupetami took the print award for the second consecutive year.– mariud@nsh.com.na

Sporting excellence celebrated in Ongwediva

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